Chapter 14 — They Think I'm Leaning on My Brother-in-law... Until I Flip the Cards

I laughed, a very light laugh. But colorful enough.

"Come back?"

"That's right."

She spoke quickly, as if afraid that I would immediately refuse.

"He hasn't regretted it these past few days. He said losing his child was the biggest mistake of his life."

"You guys love each other so much... it's not because of me and Chi Cuong's fault that we broke up."

“Trieu… Ah Aunt.”

I stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the city below.

“Do you think we can still go back?”

“Why not?”

Her voice was hurried.

"You don't have children yet, so it's not a conflict that can't be resolved..."

“Isn't the conflict irresolvable?”

I turned around, my eyes no longer had any warmth.

“Three years of hurt… do you think it's a small thing?”

“But Chi Hoa really loves you…”

I interrupted, my voice decisive.

“If he really loved me, would he let me suffer like this for three years?”

“If he really loved, would he ignore what To Chi Cuong did to me?”

Trieu My Phuong was silent. It's not that I don't want to answer... it's that I can't answer.

“Do you know how I lived these past three years?”

My voice began to tremble slightly, but not weakly.

“Every time I go out, people point at me and say I rely on a man to climb up.”

"Every time I come home... I have to look at my aunt's and my husband's younger brother's faces."

"Every time I want to clarify the truth... I am forced to endure and make sacrifices."

“I know… it's all our fault…”

Her voice gradually weakened, as if she no longer had the strength to resist.

“If I know it's wrong... can I go back?”

I looked at her, my eyes were straight and cold.

“Can you go back to the past to fix it?”

“If you had treated me better at first…”

“If Chi Hoa is enough to stand by my side…”

“If To Chi Cuong had a little conscience…”

I stopped for a beat.

“Maybe we still have a chance.”

“But now…”

“It's all too late.”

Trieu My Phuong's tears fell. She was almost begging.

“Vu Vy... I beg you, give him a chance.”

“It's really painful, every day I blame myself.”

“Is he suffering?”

I laughed, this time with a bit of bitterness.

“So these past three years… who is responsible for my pain?”

“I… I can kneel down and apologize to you…”

She stood up, intending to kneel down. I immediately caught her.

“Don't do that, it's not necessary.”

“I know I treated you poorly before…”

She cried as she spoke.

"But Chi Hoa is really not at fault, he is also the one affected..."

“No fault?”

I shook my head.

“Auntie, he is not a child.”

“He has thoughts, he has choices.”

“He chose to believe his brother, chose to ignore my feelings.”

“That… was his decision.”

“No buts.”

I interrupted, my voice light but decisive.

“There are things… once they happen, there is no going back.”

“Like a broken mirror.”

“Even if it is put back together… the crack is still there.”

Trieu My Phuong was silent for a long time. In the end... I could only nod.

“I see…”

She stood up and walked out the door, her voice tired but sincere.

“Even if you don't forgive me… I still have to say, having a daughter-in-law like you… is the To family's blessing.”

“It's just… we don't know how to appreciate it.”

I stood still, watching her leave. Inside... there's no more anger, just a little emptiness left. Maybe she really regrets it. Perhaps To Chi Hoa really wants to come back. But there are wounds—apologizing doesn't heal. no longer a woman of three years ago. I have learned to stand up straight by myself. Learn how to protect your own values. I don't need a man who can't protect me. I don't need a family that only knows how to use me as a price in exchange for "comfort". I need respect. Need real companionship. If not... it's better to be alone. That night, as soon as I got back to the apartment, my phone rang again. Display name—To Chi Hoa.

“Vu Vy... did my mother come to see you?”

His voice was cautious, as if afraid of touching an unhealed wound. I answered briefly.

“What did she… say to you?”

“She wants us back.”